Organising moving day
Bitte stellt die Kisten in den Flur.
Give clear instructions, agree on times and check where things should go.
Use commands to coordinate practical tasks. With du, say Stell den Stuhl …! or Leg das Buch …! With ihr, use the verb form without ihr: Stellt die Kisten …! With polite Sie, keep Sie after the verb: Stellen Sie …! Bitte makes an instruction friendlier. Separable verbs place the prefix at the end: Mach bitte die Tür auf! Combine instructions with destinations, then check the final location. In German, forms with -e are also possible; this lesson practises the short forms Stell! and Leg!.
Bitte stellt die Kisten in den Flur.
Please put the boxes in the hallway. (to several friends)
Stell die Lampe neben das Bett, bitte.
Put the lamp next to the bed, please. (to one friend)
Legen Sie den Schlüssel auf den Tisch, bitte.
Please put the key on the table. (polite)
Mach bitte die Tür auf.
Please open the door. (to one friend)
Wir treffen uns am Samstag um neun Uhr.
We’ll meet on Saturday at nine.
Jetzt stehen alle Kisten im Flur.
Now all the boxes are in the hallway.
Use commands to coordinate practical tasks. With du, say Stell den Stuhl …! or Leg das Buch …! With ihr, use the verb form without ihr: Stellt die Kisten …! With polite Sie, keep Sie after the verb: Stellen Sie …! Bitte makes an instruction friendlier. Separable verbs place the prefix at the end: Mach bitte die Tür auf! Combine instructions with destinations, then check the final location. In German, forms with -e are also possible; this lesson practises the short forms Stell! and Leg!.
Give clear instructions, agree on times and check where things should go.
Do not mix the person forms: to several friends, use Stellt bitte …!, not Stell bitte …! Keep destinations and locations distinct.
du: Stell! / Leg! · ihr: Stellt! / Legt! · Sie: Stellen Sie! · Mach … auf!
Plan a move with two friends. Give three instructions, state a meeting time and confirm where the boxes are afterwards.